3. I must be an optimist as I always expect English summers to be gorgeous hot sunny days with long warm evenings and a few rainy days thrown in to keep everywhere lush and green, whereas it's usually the opposite way round.

4. I love to read and although my Kindle is fabulous there is nothing like opening a brand new book.

5. One day DB and I will manage to get a permit and do the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike.

I agree and would be lost without my paper maps, they open up boundless exciting opportunities. GPS is good, but....... Although last summer we met a family RVing from California to Disneyland Florida using only their cell 'phones and GPS. Don't think I'd've like to trust either on a trip like that because you say what does happen when the power goes out?